Inside
u Performing arts fest P. 11/12 u NL candidates P. 13
u Ready, set, learn P. 2/16 u NIFP fire P. 3
Publications Mail Contract #: 40007759
WEDNESDAY, April 17, 2013
PHONE: 996-8482 www.caledoniacourier.com
VOL. 36 NO. 07 $1.30 inc. GST
Crossing our borders
Pat Gauthier’s piece depicting the proposed route of the Northern Gateway pipeline through her property is currently on display in the Art Space gallery above Books and Company in Prince George as part of a group show called Pipe Up. It is the ninth annual environmental art show in Prince George. Gauthier’s piece depicts her personal feelings in relation to the effect of the Enbridge pipeline crossing the ranch where she lives. The pipeline crosses three water ways in the area, the Necoslie River, the Stuart River, and then Pitka Creek which runs the length of her 1,400 acre ranch. If a spill did happen on the ranch Gauthier is concerned the cattle would not be able to drink water from Pitka Creek for years. Where the pipeline leaves the ranch is on a small acreage that she and her husband subdivided out of the ranch, to retire on. Gauthier worries the view property will be reduced in value and the pipeline limits where the couple can locate buildings and move equipment around. While there is some compensation Gauthier does not feel it is sufficient to be left with the abandoned pipe. Pat Gauthier Photo
Not-so-clean sweep for Fort Ruth Lloyd Caledonia Courier The District of Fort St. James is trying to clean up the streets. The only problem is, they do not have the equipment they need to do the job. The District of Fort St. James does not own their own street sweeper, instead, the task is contracted out to Vanderhoof, which can only provide the service once they are done sweeping their own streets. “We don’t necessarily get it when we want or need it,” said Kevin Crook, Chief Administrative Officer for the District. “And of course, there is a significant cost to bring it up.” However, with increased industrial traffic through town from both the mine and the logging in the area trucking logs to southern mills, the streets need attention more frequently, and the mayor and council have received more comments from residents and are more concerned for pedestrian health and cyclist safety. “The dirt on the side of the road is pushing them into the middle of the road and then of course there’s just not enough space for two logging trucks and a bicycle in that very narrow space in the middle,” said Councillor Joan Burdeniuk who is also on the Transporta-
tion Committee. “For me it is a safety issue, as well as a cosmetic issue.” “We want to encourage people to be biking and walking, and to do that we thought the sweeper would be excellent for that as well,” said Crook. The Transportation Committee’s recommendation is for there to be more frequent street sweeping, in whatever way the District can make this happen, however, service from Vanderhoof is limited by their own street sweeping and manpower requirements. “They’ve been very accommodating, as much as they can,” said Burdeniuk. “It’s just we need a bit more than they can offer.” The District did not have the room in recent budgets to purchase a street sweeper, which they estimated would cost around $100,000, and the District has been looking informally for grants for the sweeper for up to two years but so far unsuccessfully. So they had hoped to approach the industry users who are adding to the issue through the increased traffic to therefore help out by contributing towards the purchase. “We were hoping that they could contribute to the quality of life here by supporting the purchase,” said Crook. So far, Carrier Lumber and Dunkley Lumber were both sent letters requesting contributions towards the purchase, but neither one has expressed interest in doing so. “The feeling is that the increased use of the road is making it dirtier,” said Burdeniuk. “That’s the first kick at the can, we’re not going to give up on it yet.”
Talking trash Ruth Lloyd Caledonia Courier
The Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako (RDBN) is going to be discussing waste transfer stations at their next meeting on April 18. Staff at the waste transfer stations across the region had brought forward concerns regarding reuse sheds and safety around salvaging at transfer sites at a recent waste management committee meeting. The committee has now brought these concerns forward and the RDBN will be discussing possible options to address the issues. The concern around reuse sheds was people bringing dirty items or “ransacking” the sheds and leaving a mess behind, as well as the dumping of end-of-life items such as electronics at sites where there is no electronics recycling, such as Fort St. James. The nearest electronic recycling is in Vanderhoof, according to Bill Miller of the RDBN and so when people leave those items in the reuse shed they are just creating work for the staff. Miller said the reuse sheds had strong support at the committee meeting and while closing the sheds was brought forward as an option, he does not think this idea was supported or would go forward from the RDBN meeting. Instead, he expects to hear discussion around how to make the sheds more effective, because they do help to reduce the amount of items put into the landfill. “We’re always looking at trying to reduce the amount of waste we’re burying,” said Miller. The RDBN and their waste management committee will also be trying to integrate the new rules regarding product and packaging management which will be coming into effect in May 2014. The new rules will charge consumers up front for the cost of dealing with the packaging and products at their end of life, and the producers will have to work on ways to deal with the products and packaging.